Dumb q's about this board

[Essie]

Hi, I am a new member here, but also new to message boards for all intents and purposes. I was a member for a few years on a hobby board about 12-15 years ago, but it was very simple (just a post button) because they were not common and were fairly new back then. I have only browsed boards otherwise when Google searching random things if a board came up in the search, except that I have used Metafilter a few times but only to ask very technical questions.

So here are the dumb Q's I am asking so not to make silly mistakes and annoy everyone else by doing things wrong. I am grateful for anyone patient enough to answer these!

1) I think someone might have been trying to ask me a question or replied to my reply when I replied to a post yesterday, because I saw that in the flag on the upper-right of the screen it said they'd quoted me. I could not look at that at the time and it went away. I can't remember what the thread was. I feel rude if they did and I don't even know what they said to reply back to them, but I can't find the flag notification or the thread. So I guess what I am asking is how does this work? How do you go back a day later to see if anyone needed you to answer something additional, esp. if you don't remember the names of the threads you were on and as time goes by?

2) How old is too old to reply to threads? How many pages is it acceptable to go back (or how many days/weeks)? I see all the time online people yelling at people for resurrecting old threads. But I have an answer to someone's old question they asked a few weeks ago. (In this case, I don't know how to answer them because they were not the OP who made the thread. Just someone who replied but asked their own Q, so I doubt there really is a way to be sure they will see it if they don't recheck that thread). But in general, esp. if it is a thread with a good question that no one really replied to, how long is too long before members get annoyed?


I have a million other questions but these are the two important ones now. Thank you so much!

 

[Sayo]

Hi!

You can see all your notifications, including old ones, by pressing on the flag again and then 'Show All'.

People don't seem to mind bumping threads much here. It's inappropriate to bump farewell threads in my opinion and you should go to the User Speculation Megathread for that, but there's no rule against responding to old posts. Just be aware you may not get a reply, especially if it's a difficult question (highly specific questions, very technical questions, very specific to the individual's biochemistry) or the user isn't around for whatever reason.

Try to use the search tool first though to make sure it hasn't been answered elsewhere, because the turnover is rapid here. For example, if the question is about a method with a large and active thread and wasn't answered, it might just be better to repost in that thread or make a new one appropriate to your own circumstances.

Impossible to comment on how long before people get annoyed since we are all different. I don't see people get frustrated about it like other forums though.

 

[VanHeineken]

I don't think responding to old posts is a problem, especially if the thread contains good information about a subject.

Sometimes the information in one single thread can be a lot better than all the other threads on the same subject combined.

I have responded to old posts a couple of times I think. But I only do this if I think I can add relevant information that is of interest to others. I think it's nice if one thread can manage to contain all the necessary information you need collected. Usually information gets fragmentet and you need to research several threads about the same subject to learn enough about a subject.

But if this annoys people I will stop.

It makes me very happy that on this forum people always talk to each other with friendliness and respect. Thank God for that! Let this place be a sanctuary for us all.

 

[Mr2005]

I was a member for a few years on a hobby board about 12-15 years ago, but it was very simple (just a post button) because they were not common and were fairly new back then

This has nothing to do with what you're asking (that seems to have been covered) I just wanted to say thankyou for saying that. It's the excuse I need to even be able to live myself for another day due to my very particular regrets

 

[Essie]

Thank you all so much! You have really, really helped. And yes, the people here seem so much nicer and more patient with one another than other boards I have seen. For all the stigma suicidal people get (including me from family members who know my feelings about suicide), it's ironic that they are the *nicest* people as a group on message boards I have come across.

 

[Made4TV]

Thank you all so much! You have really, really helped. And yes, the people here seem so much nicer and more patient with one another than other boards I have seen. For all the stigma suicidal people get (including me from family members who know my feelings about suicide), it's ironic that they are the *nicest* people as a group on message boards I have come across.

For myself I know I just don't want to add to anyone's suffering and it's a club where I'm sad that I'm a part of it...and sad for other caring, good people in pain. I don't want to add more misery to this already fucked up world. Welcome here.